Automatic feeder for bock-stitching machines



W. A. HEITSHU.

AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR BOOK ST ITCHING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED 1M. 9,1919.

Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

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Application filed January 9, 1919.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, l VILLmM It. llnrrsno, of Lancaster, l cnnsylvania,have invented a certain new and useful improvement in, Automatic Feedersfor BoolcStitching lilachines, and do hereby declare that the fol lowingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to book st tch ng machines, of the class inwhichthe stitching is done at intervals, as by wire passed through the leavesor signatures, and my object is to provide a mechanical feeder of simpleand inexpensive construction, and which will be highly efficient, and tothis end my invention consists in the feed mechanism constructedsubstantially as hereinafter speclfied and claimed.

In the annexed drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a well known wire stitcher, in whichmy invent on is embodied, the stitching machine being shown in dottedlines 5' Fig. 2is a detail view in cross sectlon through the saddle;

Fig. 3 is a detail view 1n perspective of one of the reciprocating feedblocks, and the finger trip; l

Fig. 4% is a detail view, lIl cross section, of the adjustable pivotconnection between the members of the feed block reciprocating means; 1n

Fig. 5 is a detail view showlng the contour of the cam that actuates thefeed block.

The stitching machine, being of a wellknown construction, needs only ageneral do scription. It has a Cshaped frame 10, mounted upon legs 11,which frame supports an 111- verted, horizontal ll-shape table or saddle12, and wire feeding and stitching mechanism, 13, and a horizontaloperating shart 14L having a pulley 14" for revolving 1t. The book orpamphlet to be stitched 1s placed upon the saddle, which it straddles111 an open position, and 1s slid or fed along the saddle to present itto the stltching mechanism for stitching at the desired points, andheretofore, the feeding has been done by hand.

Briefly described my invention comprehends the use of two similarreciprocating feed blocks, each carrying a book-engaging finger, oneblock at each side of the saddle, and a cam applied to the drivingshaftby which motion is imparted to thefeed blocks alternately inopposite directions so that Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 55, 1921..

Serial No. erases.

while one block is feeding a book, the other 15 returning to position tofeed another book, and thus the output of the machine doubled. As eachfeed block is like the other, the description of one will apply to both.Each feed block 15 has a T-slot that fits a "l"-bar 16 secured to theunderside of the saddle. and pivoted to its side is a finger 17 which isadapted to project upward through a longitudinal slot 18 in the saddle,in position to engage the end of a book placed outside the saddle. Whenthe finger reaches the end of theslot, in its forward movement, afurther short movement of the block results in the folding down of thefinger below the outer face of the saddle, so that on ensuing reversetravel of the block, the finger will not collide with another book onthe saddle. Attached to the finger 17 at the side thereof, and at anangle of 90 degrees thereto, is a short finger 19 adapted, on the returnstroke of the block, to encounter a trip lug 20 secured to the undersideof the saddle and be rocked thereby so as to lift the finger 17 to itsbook'engaging portion above the saddle. The trip lug 20 is mounted on arod 21 which passes through an eye 22 of the lug which is therebyshiftable to place the trip at the desired adjustment required by thelength of the book being fed. set screw 23 in the eye secures the tripto the rod at the desired adjustment. A scale is marked on the rod tofacilitate adjustment.

A spring 24 attached at one end to the feed block and pressing at itsother end upon the hub of the feed finger 17 holds the latter yieldinglyin each of its two positions.

To the underside of the feed block is pivotally connected, preferably bya universal joint, one end of a link 25 whose other end is pivotallyconnected to the upper end of a lever 26 that it attached to ahorizontal rock shaft 27 supported by bearings 28 on a base frame 29that rests on the floor. Attached to the rock shaft is a crank arm 30with which is pivotally connected a link 31 that is attached to a lever32 pivoted to the machine frame 10, and having a roller 33 that engagesa cam 34 geared two to one to the driving shaft, by which the movementsof the feed block are effected or controlled.

The cam may be a track cam, or as shown, a spring 35 acting on the lever32 may move the latter in opposition to the cam. The cam has suchcontour that it imparts three forward movements intermittently with twoidle motions, and a return movement, an idle motion occurring betweenthe first and second advance, at which time the work is stationary forthe stitching operation, and the third advance being for the purpose ofmoving the stitched book onward to the packer. The packer is alsooperated from a cam on the driving shaft.

The rock shaft 36 for one of the feed mechanisms is a sleeve loose onthe rock shaft 27 of the other and the cam acts on the levers of the twofeed mechanisms at points 180 degrees apart so that while one set isfeeding the other is returning.

The rock shaft bearings 28 are shiftable for adjusting the feedmechanisms to suit the length of the book or pamphlet, and to shift therock shafts for such purpose, I attach to the rock shaft 27 a screw rod37 with a hand wheel nut 38 that has a swiveled bearing on the baseframe 29.

The throw of the feed block levers is adjustable by making the pivotalconnection between the crank arm 30 and the link 31 adjustable. Thedetails of the adjustment pivot are shown in big. 4. The crank arm has aslot 320 which engages a squared section .330 on a headed bolt 340 whichpasses through a sleeve 350 that hasa head 360, next to the crank armand at its other end is engaged by a nut 370 on the bolt. The link 31has a slot 380 which engages a squared section 89 on a tubular bolt 40that fits over the sleeve 35, and the link lies between a head 41 onsuch sleeve and a washer 42 loose on the sleeve that is engaged by aclamping nut 43. p

The work is placed on the saddle by two operatives, one at each side ofthe saddle.

From the saddle the stitched book is delivered to a downwardly inclinedchute or guide 4.4, supported by a vertically adjustable standard 45,which directs it to the packer 46, of well-known construction, andtherefore needing no specific description. Its reciprocating pusher -17is connected by a link 4&8 to a bell crank lever 49 that is vibrated bya rod 50 that is reciprocated by a cam 51 on the cam shaft 52.

Of course, my invention is applicable to other types of stitchingmachines than that shown in the drawings; and its details ofconstruction may be varied without departure from the principleinvolved. Its characteristics, as l have worked out the construction,enable it to be applied to stitching machines already built anddesigned.

for hand feeding.

I claim:

1. In a book stitching machine, the combination of a work table and aplurality of alternately acting work feeders each having an idle and afeed motion and the feed motion of one occuring during the idle motionof the other.

2. In a book stitching machine, the combination of a work table and aplurality of alternately acting work feeders, each comprising areciprocating feed block each having an idle and a feed motion and thefeed motion of one occuring during the idle motion of the other.

3. In a book stitching machinefthe combination of a saddle, areciprocating feed block for each side of the saddle and means toreciprocate such feed blocks alternately, the motion in one directionbeing feed and the other idle, and the feed motion of one occuringduring the idle motion of the other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

WM. A. HEITSHU.

